Moses, Martin and Obama

There is much recognized symbolism in the coinciding timeframe of President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in and Martin Luther King Day. Eighty … Continued

by Melissa Boteach

There is much recognized symbolism in the coinciding timeframe of President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in and Martin Luther King Day. Eighty years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in the segregated south, our country is one step closer to his dream with the inauguration of our first African-American President. Less discussed, but arguably as poignant, is that the week of inauguration corresponds with the famed speech of another great leader, one that has inspired President-elect Obama, Dr. King, and billions of people around the world for millennia.

That speech is Moses’ farewell sermon to the Jewish people. In three discourses, Moses reviews the forty years that the Israelites spent wandering in the desert, and outlines the code of law that they are to abide by as they go forth into the Promised Land. It could be argued that no other speech has had a bigger impact on the history of the Western World. Jewish tradition teaches that this speech began during the first day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which falls just days after President-elect Obama’s inauguration in the Gregorian calendar.

Dr. King was famed for his ability to draw on scriptures to recast the debate on civil rights and poverty, inspiring millions of people to translate their values into action on behalf of the marginalized and vulnerable. Obama can call upon the values that Moses outlined during the very week of his swearing in, as Dr. King did on several occasions.

Our President-elect has a unique opportunity during his inauguration not only to invoke the legacy of Dr. King, but to draw upon a central moment in Moses’ final speech, “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Jews have traditionally used this phrase as a call to social action, a mandate to seek systemic change in addition to charitable acts. Specifically, there are two themes President-elect Obama could extract from Moses’ final speech to the Israelites and incorporate into his inaugural address and subsequent policy priorities.

First, a strong economy is one that promotes shared prosperity. In his speech to the Israelites, Moses reminds them, “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, but you must pay him his wages on the same day, for he is needy and urgently depends on it” (Deuteronomy 24:14-15). According to the Center on Economic and Policy Research, only 1 in 4 jobs in America is defined as a “good job, squashing the myth that low-income people should just “get a job” in order pull themselves out of poverty.

Second, strengthening our social safety net is a moral imperative. Moses takes the opportunity in his final address to remind the Israelites of their obligations to help the poor and vulnerable. He cites the commandment, “When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back and get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:19-22). While an economy that creates good jobs is the surest path to rebuilding America’s middle-class, we must recognize that at some point or another, most people will fall on hard times. In fact, research by Mark Rank and Thomas Hirschl shows that “a majority of Americans will at some point experience at least one year below the poverty line.”

Moses opened his final speech to the Jewish people by declaring, “You have dwelled long enough at this mountain…” (Deuteronomy 1:6-7). We in America have also “dwelled long enough” in an era of widening inequality and growing poverty. In his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Dr. King strikes the same chords. As he addressed striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, he reminded the crowd, “It’s all right to talk about ‘streets flowing with milk and honey,’ but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can’t eat three square meals a day.”

At his historic inauguration, President-elect Obama has the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of two giants, Dr. King and Moses, who called on their followers to fulfill a vision of justice and compassion. As we enter into a new era of American politics, let us hold ourselves and our political leadership responsible for beginning a new leg of our journey towards “The Promised Land,” an America with a more inclusive economy that focuses not just on ending income deprivation, but on promoting overall human development and access to opportunity.

Melissa Boteach is the Poverty Campaign Coordinator for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

He’s going to take lessons from Moses. What? Is he going to claim God as his real estate agent and take another nation’s land away from it!

brucerealtor@gmail.com

Maybe ‘kill them all, let God sort them out?’Sounds like something Moses would have said and if not Moses, then Yahweh for sure, namely, ‘you will kill every man, woman and child’ upon your entry into the Promised Land. Something I guess they failed to do.Perhaps not all potential lessons of Moses and Yahweh would be today acceptable under international norms.

segeny

You’ve got the term wrong, Melissa. It’s not an ‘inauguration’ but a canonization of “The One”. Let us pray (for America – we’re going to need it!).

tonyharding

A man’s faith is personal and private – a matter berween himself and God – & to continually drag into the present and public the dusty mythologies from the Old Testament renders service neither to God nor to Man.

tonyharding

An interesting aside- were God to have actually incited the genocide that one comes across in the Old Testament He would now be considered to have incited racial hatred and been a fit candidate to be judged for crimes against humanity.

talib

Unfortunately what the Zionists are doing in Gaza is in flagrant contradiction to both Prophet Moses and Martin Luther. This is a total abuse to the values and doctrines of both. What persident Obama must do is to shape them up as Prophet Mosest did when he encountered astray notions of many among their ancestors.

markandbeth

President B. Housan Obama is nither Moses or Dr King. As for paying the worker their wage, I also believe President Obama should remember that and not pick on the poor and middle class. He should not allow a democrat congress and a radical energy secretary to push an out of control gas tax that raises the price of gas to that of Europ or Canada like they have said they want to. This will only hurt … no devistate the poor and middle class of my America.Yes, he should remember the words of Moses and not enact these very harmful very un-nessesary taxes on our land.

walman21

“So help me God.” “In God we trust.” Regardless of whether you are Christian or Jew, Muslim or Buddhist, sll religion (with the exception of the atheist and the uncertainty of the agnostic) believes in the existence of a higher being or beings. In today’s difficult climate, it’s probably more important than ever for us to “cling to our guns and religion…”

hyjanks

It never fails to amaze me the amount of cherry-picking indulged in by the followers of Jesus. The tree from which the fruit is harvested stands bear from all the attention it receives from hypocrites.

danieleteodoru

GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES was something new I heard once in America and in a Protestant Church. They were very pragmatic about the words of Jesus about the two sides of a coin: give to Caesar his due and God his due. But for some reason we are now in that mythical realm of the whims of the gods where his messenger instructs us in how to reach elation to please him. THIS IS NOT AMERICAN. The American philosophic and theologic tradition held us each responsible before God for his own free will. It did not prescribe from some hybrid text such as the Bible. So what Obama has to learn from Moses is that if all you do is exhibit learned helplessness and wait for God to “will it,” you will be frustrated, will get mad and will be punished with denied access to the barren “promised land.” Let’s be good stewards of our own fate so that we may all be allowed in when the time comes as reward for the self-help we do now. If Obama allows thieves disguised as priests and pastors to sway him, he will pay the muse of history with a sad emphasis of his shortcoming, as was the case with his unpardonably incompetent UNdecider predecessor. May God inspire Obama, but may he do something to remember with his own abilities.

ravitchn

There are already too many, far too many, messianic themes in the discussion of Obama, who is just a man albeit a very bright one. He is not our saviour or messiah nor does he want to be. Another FDR would be more than enough.

rcubedkc

What could Obama learn from the fictitious Moses? How about, trust your compass. Forty years is a long time to be wandering around in the desert.

GordonShumway

I don’t believe sainthood is going to be good enough for Obama. Maybe even being designated the messiah……… Let us start building the temples.

In a worst-case scenario, it would take no more than a year to travel from Egypt to Israel. Why would anyone listen to someone like Moses (who never actually existed) when he was so inept that it took the Israelites 40 years to make the journey – and Moses never made it to “the promised land” because he had “displeased god.” Anyone who took 40 years to walk from Providence, RI to New York City would certainly be a laughing-stock. The mythical Moses is not someone to whom much credence should be given. You might want to pick another mythical persona to make you point. How about King Solomon — at least he was decisive!

12thgenamerican

you missed something. no one twenty and over when they left egypt made it into the promised land,except joshua and caleb. they all died in the wilderness. that is because they disobeyed GOD. they marched around for forty years,with about 85 people dying every day. in other words a giant funeral procession. and GOD didn’t give them the land because they were good,he took it from the people who were there because they were wicked.more wicked then israel.if obama reads his believes his bible he would be wise to look at the prophecy concerning abrahams son by sarah’s servant. he will be a wild ass of a man and his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him. moses was the most humble man. that is the best example anyone needs.

B2O2

It’s a nice idea, trying to gently remind conservative Christian Taliban members here in the US of all the dictates in their anonymously-authored Bronze Age book to care for the poor and the sick, and to value peace and understanding above war and cultural Jihad. But I fear that your words are in vain, Ms. Boteach. Anymore the only parts of the Bible (New or Old Testament) that exist for conservative pseudochristians are the crusty ancient sections that rail against homosexuality. Right there in the same books where “God” supposely commands hauling your misbehaving kids to the village square to be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21, for the perversely curious).I’ve got a better idea. It’s the 21st century. Our troops are dying in Afghanistan in the fight against religious fundamentalism. What do you say we act like modern, informed adults and just do right by each other? Dispense with the archealogical relics and the Magic Tooth Fairy and actually take responsiblity for our lives and our actions? Hmmm? Sound like a plan?

brewstercounty

Wait a minute! I thought Obama was channeling Lincoln. Or was it FDR or JFK? And now it’s Moses. Good grief! This is far beyond ridiculous. Or maybe it’s satire and I’m too obtuse to get it. The Washington Post has lost its collective mind.

MM55

Moses, after seeing his people worshipping idols (the golden calf) slammed and broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

danieleteodoru

It is good to see that most commentators on this list see that the burning bush is only something that makes Smokey the Bear cry and not a myth by which we steal each other blind and abrogate our own responsibility for our decisions. Here Reverend Wright, Obama’s Pastor, seems more comfy to me as Obama’s guide than Moses as his guide. Rev. Wright put his body on the line as a US Marine– something most of us would avoid– to defend the nation that deemed him for so long as only a “n–ger.” He then spoke out, not out of malice, but out of moral outrage. I hope Obama as President will better be guided thinking of the words of his rough but forthright Pastor that the hateful babble of a mythical creature that, even in the myth, did not qualify for access to where he led his people. While many of us would like to see Obama allegorically bring before us a litigious “burning Bush,” in the docket, we seek none of the Biblical excuses for massacre that seem so in vogue these days. Ours is a loving God and hopefully Obama will try to emulate the human example He put before us instead of the angry and confused Semite of myth.

kapny

I’m not sure the reason for the hysteria with all of the commments below. I agree with Ms. Boteach’s message articulating the shared virtues between Mr. Obama’s campaign themes/presidential agenda and Moses’ Sermon on the Mount. We should all hope that Mr. Obama heeds these messages and all early indications show that he and his administration will do so, particularly in relation to poverty, labor rights, and hunger. Cheers on an insightful article.

Sirius2

Why not the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy?

kungfupanda2009

This is a secular event. What if Obama is a Muslim, would this article be published.? Bush has used God to make an illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq? Bush has used God to control our Court room of justice for his injustice behavior. Bush has used God to torture foreign civilians. It is offensive to use God’s name in any news publication. It should be banned after Bush has defamed God for the past 8 years.

wyne

I do not think we want Obama to try to connect with Moses today or any time in the near future…Moses’s words are great but I can assure you that if he is up their watching how Israel pulvurized its caged neighbours, he ain’t smiling…

TheNerdX

I’m sure that Israel’s bombing of Palestine is of two factors: 1. Palestine’s leader wants to “Wipe off Israel from the face of the earth.” And 2. Israel wants to maintain their “Right to exsist.” After all, Hamas, whatever he is, is “The New Al-Qaeda” and Obama may want to get into this situation.

arjay1

The UN needs to occupy Jerusalem and begin systematic searchs beneath the Noble Sanctuary and Temple Mount in order to find the Ark of the Covenant with the THREE tablets given Moses. The two tablets he displayed before the sinners of Hebron only contained the ten ‘thou shalt not’ commandments and not the five ‘thou shalt’ commandments. Without knowing what ‘thou shalt’ means, mankind is doomed.

crae76

I believed that many people read the Bible,be it the old,new Testaments and don’t any about the Bible,why they both read,only understand what some Paster say wholeheartly, that is based on igronace,and confusson.I have read the Bible from beginning to end more han once,and to my understanding this holy book is one the most Racist and Violent book there is on this plant.What I am saying is God seems to go out of his to kill for the Jews,and if you should truely sit down,and yourself one very important you will go up with one very important answer and that is, now you understand why the Jews don’t care about other people, you only have to read the Bible to understand the reason why this world is what it is. crae76.

spidermean2

crae76, the Bible is NOT a pocketbook wherein you just read it for pleasure. A lot of intelligence is needed to understand the book. It’s NOT for the idiots and if idiots read it, they go from worse to worst — from foolish to tramsforming into totally MAD.Upto now, there are some passages in the bible which I cannot understand. That is the way to read the Bible. To accept that we don’t know everything. Otherwise, stupidity takes over.

bluestu

After 29 years of wandering through the Reagan era policies and anti-people governing, I can see the Promised Land. President Obama will take us back to a Land where people will be the top priority of government and not rich fat cat friends. Thank goodness, the end of an era is about to end and the next to start. As a Jew, I was taught about the 40 years of wandering in the desert. The end of the story that always remained with me is that Moses could not go into Israel because it was for the holy and unmarred and did not go against the Ten Commandments. Since Moses did kill before he left Egypt, he was not permitted to enter the Holy Land. He knew he would not be permitted to enter, but he still went anyway, to lead, to sacrafice himself to his people so they could reach their destiny. This is what Moses means to me. I believe that President Obama will mirror Dr King and Moses in sacraficing, but he will be allowed to lead us towards the ultimate experiment in liberty, freedom, and democracy, that is until we perfect it.

ZenLover

What drivel, this article! Moses was probably not even real. Do you need a book and a speech to tell you “pay your needy laborer”? Can you not be good or reasonable on your own? Take heed from the advert on London buses, “There is probably no god. Just enjoy your life” or something like that.

IliadTerra

Obama will do well to seek council and guidance from all spiritual, social and intellectual points of light that have lit the darkness of human history.The post author fails to recognize a unique opportunity afforded Obama to engage the brightest ideas of the world. It seems exceedingly myopic to limit him to King and Moses.It will no doubt be unfortunate of this so-called “change” we’ve been promised turns out to be a pocked full of stale and musty coinages.

sami_jadallah

Let us hope President Obama does not follow the Talmudic/Israeli modern day interpretation of the Ten Commandment based on killing and murder and destruction. I am sure Moses never meant for his followers to commit the kind of war crimes they committed in Gaza. Every time I hear of the Ten Commandments I could not help but remember Gaza.

sami_jadallah

Let us hope President Obama does not follow the Talmudic/Israeli modern day interpretation of the Ten Commandment based on killing and murder and destruction. I am sure Moses never meant for his followers to commit the kind of war crimes they committed in Gaza. Every time I hear of the Ten Commandments I could not help but remember Gaza.

TIMNGUYEN1

DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT BARACK OBAMA SAYS, BUT CAREFULLY WATCH WHAT HE DOES !!!Barack Obama is the greatest liar in history (no wonder he is an excellent lawyer!) During his campaign, he told lots of hope in future for America if he was elected, but now he warns Americans of oncoming darker economy and not to put too much hope in his promises. He promises a big plan to reduce budget deficit but his inauguration ceremony this January will be the most costly in history (50 millions) while the nation is in deep depression, as well as his presidential campaign (600 millions), which was far more than his opponent John McCain’s. He swears to clean up Washington DC, but he failed to first clean up his homestate Illinois, one of the most corrupt state with the scandal of Governor Rod Blagojevich, who greatly helped Obama to win his state senate seat in 1996, 1998, and 2002. And his favorite slogan is “Yes, we CAN”, yet he himself CANNOT quit smoking at all !!!

TIMNGUYEN1

DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT BARACK OBAMA SAYS, BUT CAREFULLY WATCH WHAT HE DOES !!!Barack Obama is the greatest liar in history (no wonder he is an excellent lawyer!) During his campaign, he told lots of hope in future for America if he was elected, but now he warns Americans of oncoming darker economy and not to put too much hope in his promises. He promises a big plan to reduce budget deficit but his inauguration ceremony this January will be the most costly in history (50 millions) while the nation is in deep depression, as well as his presidential campaign (600 millions), which was far more than his opponent John McCain’s. He swears to clean up Washington DC, but he failed to first clean up his homestate Illinois, one of the most corrupt state with the scandal of Governor Rod Blagojevich, who greatly helped Obama to win his state senate seat in 1996, 1998, and 2002. And his favorite slogan is “Yes, we CAN”, yet he himself CANNOT quit smoking at all !!!

ben12

We Jews as respect to our prophets and values do not in general talk about our prophets to gentiles. Moslem love to talk about theirs and all they got was ridicule. (Cartoons, fatwas, 72 virgins jokes).I think the lady who wrote this did something wrong. All she got was an opportunity for some nuts to talk about something they clearly know nothing about.

JimmySlimMorales

I agree much with what you say! I wrote about it in my blog;

mgd1

Let us remember that Obama, Dr. King, and Moses were all great MEN who did nothing for women. In fact religion teaches us that women are unworthy and unclean, Women only exist to serve men.too bad there are no great women leaders that can be referenced. And thanks to Obama, there will be no great women leaders for tomorrow. His promotion of discrimnination against working women and working mothers will hurt American women for the next 30 years or more.So American women – be prepared for 40 years of hardship in the wilderness where your tax dollars will support job creation for men and opportunities for male owned businesses. Prepare your daughters for sacrifice and lower wages with fewer benefits and no retirements.How fitting for Obama, Dr. King, and Moses to be linked together as they all share the same attitude and teachings towards women – we serve man as we are beneath.

marketeck

Instead of trying to muscle in Moses onto a Christian, why doesn’t she try to teach her Israeli brethren what Moses said about “justice”, “compassion”,”a more inclusive economy” and the other rights that Israel is systematically taking away from the Palestinians? Hypocricy or what?

ravitchn

The Magic Negro meets the Magic Jew!

Paganplace

Eh, CCNL, modern America as we *know* it was *built* by chain-smoking, caffeine-addicted *drunks.*If you’re trying to claim the advantage of Bush, who brought us to this brink of ruin, is, he’s not an admitted smoker, (despite continually serving the machine that denies the health hazards of smoking) Well. I think we can own that. If you want to make smoking tobacco a major feature of someone who’s trying to not make that a big feature of his being a hero to future generations… While denying that Reagan sold Chesterfields to my grandmother….Well, that’s on you, ennit?

Paganplace

I’ll tell you one thing about you conservatives, all subsidies and lying about it aside,I liked you better when you smoked. At least you could string some words together.

CCNL

Paganplace, Paganplace, Paganplace,We just report the BO news. Not a very good start for this liberal god and his goddess!!!!

Paganplace

*clickclicking mike.* Earth to CCNL?

spidermean2

Israel is leaving Gaza. So what did it achieve? I thought they would crush Hamas but they left prematurely because of pressures from other idiotic world leaders. They should have instead pressured Syria for giving refuge to Hamas leadership. The Saudis plan to give Hamas 1 billion dollars for reconstruction of Gaza. This is a dumb world. Nothing would make it sane until doomsday.Surely, a big chunk of that 1 billion would be used for more powerful rockets. The cycle of stupidity continues.

Paganplace

And you look to this part of the world to tell you what the universe is about *why,* again, Spidey?

Paganplace

I mean, don’t you *get* it, Spidey? There’s nothing special about that place. They don’t know jack there, and they never did. And frothing redneck preachers in America know even *less* about it than the people there who can’t stop blowing the crap out of each other in the name of what they call ‘Good.’There’s nothing there but pain. Exported to everywhere it touched.If there’s goodness and grace in the world, it must go *to* there, not come *from* there with all your bluster and fear and hate and judgement. The ‘prophecies’ you always cite, and the conditions you yourself demand for there to be ‘peace and forgiveness,’ child, are *part* of that darkness. Come *from* that darkness.There are no answers there. Only war. And people.

Paganplace

People, Spidey. People whose souls are their own to give or keep do not glower about your constant ends of the world and your unending, nonsensical wars, while making children cry and scream. There is no soul or redemption there. Only fear. A desperate fear, for which I pity you. You’d rather see the world end than admit you’re mortal, and for this I call you coward.

Farnaz2

Interesting piece. Quite eludes the christian and muslim Taliban among us, but what doesn’t? Anyway, the Muslims have demonstrated that Jesus was Muslim (see Quoran). So, maybe, the christian and muslim Taliban can join forces. Blow themselves and each other up, for instance. Shoot rockets at themselves and each other, for instance. Fly into twin towers populated only by themselves, for instance. Yeah. Good. Outta heah.Just some thoughts. Interesting piece.

spidermean2

Around the world, there are explosions. The victims were innocent people including little children who have no “dog” with Israel-Palestine conflict. Im interested who are those “christian talibans” who are involved in those bombings. The “Christian Talibans” I saw were riding on Mercy Ships giving free medical aid to the poorest.

spidermean2

Obama should understand that the Afghan menace cannot be solved unless FREEDOM of CONSCIENCE becomes basic in their constitution.It would just be like a merry-go-round affair,a cycle of stupidity constantly repeating itself, unless this basic freeedom is restored. If the American soldiers don’t have that mission on their mind, they better just go home. It would just be a waste of money, time and lives.Nothing would be achieved. It would just be like defending another crazy society.

Farnaz2

Hello Spiderman,The “Christian Talibans” I saw were riding on Mercy Ships giving free medical aid to the poorest.”Hello, Spiderman, if you are Spiderman. For Christian Taliban, scroll down. Then scroll around this blog. Then read WaPo. For Muslim Taliban, do the same. Also, helpful information can be gleaned from the eight innocent Israelis murdered by Hamas in June, as well as by innocent Palestinians murdered by same. The one out of three murders, honor killings, by brothers of sisters for the crime of having been raped by fellow Palistinians will also give you insight.The mother of the little girl shot in the head deliberately by a Muslim Talib terrorist, the one which made world headlines can be read about through accessing any major newspaper from a few months ago.Speak to the mother of the little murdered boy who was lured by Muslim Talib and murdered and mutilated, his remains pasted on a cave.About them, what have many Christians said? And what would you call said Christians? If the AmeriChristians can slaughter over one hundred thousand Iraqis for NOTHING, over 100,000 Afghan people for NOTHING, but then yell and scream racist garbage at tiny Israel for defending itself against murdering bombers, then what would you call those Christians? What would you call them who care nothing about the three million Middle Eastern Jews, like me, who are living in exile? What would you call them when they know that my having seen a family friend murdered in the street is nothing unusual, but so what? What would you call them???NOw, you overlooked some of those bringing in food and medical supplies all the way through. Who were they? Gee, looked kind of Israeli-ish to me, Spiderman. And why is it exactly that Egypt sealed its borders making it impossible for assistance to get through? Your answer. I’m interested.And why is it that no one said a word about that? If you are Spiderman, then we know each other. And I’d have imagined you know what I meant.Anyway, all of this is moot, isn’t it? Every Muslim knows that Jesus was Muslim, wasn’t the Son of God, etc. See the Quoran. And Islam is the fasted growing religion. So, what difference does it make? Anti-Christian racism is rampant throughout the Middle East. Many view Christians as idolaters. Any person who believes Jesus was the son of God is doomed to hell, according to Islam. Of course, they’re biding they’re time. They know, these extremists, that they’re outmanned and outnumbered in the West. So….Still some of it sneaks out onto the web from time to time. As you should know.I do hope you understand, Spiderman, my friend. If you are Spiderman.And if you are Spiderman, my friend, then good night.

spidermean2

Hello Farnaz, How r u? Actually there are no Christian Talibans but it is true that there are fake Christians. Catholicism is not Christianity. Being born again is NOT thru the power of man ( a step by step process deviced by most organized religon) but thru the will of God. It is a gift from God and a transformation ensues thru faith. I suggest that you try to attend a conservative evangelical church so you can fully understand what im talking about.The reason why Moses and Martin Luther has some kind of connection is because both have the same master. Moses called him the “Holy One” while Luther called him, Jesus Christ. The prophecy foretells that the Middle East would burn. Not because Christians want to burn it but due to the stupidity of its own people.Jesus said “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed,He’s referring to Himself.